cats vs rats

[Katiejane]

My girls are around 5 months old. Up until recently I had their cage in a spare bedroom so I could restrict my cats (I have 2) from bothering them. A few weeks ago I decided to move them because they just weren't getting as much attention as I wanted them to have. So now they are out in my living room where they get a lot more treats and attention and they love that but my cats are being total jerks and frightening the heck out of the poor girls. Before these girls I had other rats that never allowed the cats (not the same cats I have now though) to bug them. They stopped the cats from trying anything on their own by jumping at them and scaring them away. These girls just hide, seemingly terrified. Since I moved the cage only Henri really still moves around the cage and only then if she can't see any cats around, Mildred basically stays hiding in her hammock (she has always been more timid than Henri). And now Mildred is noticeably smaller than her sister. I don't think she has lost weight, (she isn't thin per se and has no other symptoms of illness I can detect) just that she doesn't seem to be putting it on/growing like Henri does.
So I need to figure out how to make my rats happy and confident again, anyone have any suggestions either for how to manage the rats or the cats?
I'd rather not move the cage back into the room but if I have to for their sake I will. I have a spray bottle which I use on the cats to try and make them stop but it only stops them for a minute and then they are back. Also I lock the cats in a bedroom for at least an hour or so every day so I can take the girls out safely to play and so they have some time to run around the cage without the cats watching (though even with the cats away Mildred doesn't do much running around). That seems to help, but I can't keep the cats locked up all the time, and they do not go outside. I have no idea what else to do to help.

 

[Petunia]

how long has the cage been in the new room? I just got a cat and the scent of her, before she even walked into their room, frightened my rats. they didn't want to come out to play for a day or two. But soon they realized that the cat is not allowed in the room when they are out to play so they've relaxed. Now, my cat has not really spent much time looking at the rats, so it's a bit different than your situation but still I think in time most rats figure out that the cat can't get to them and they relax

if your cats are pawing at the cage or something like that, maybe you could put a temporary barrier around the cage made out of those large presentation sheets of cardboard, or some coroplast.

I think these are the presentation boards I got, but I'm sure there are others, and various prices. You could also cut up very large cardboard boxes if you have access to them to make the same sort of barrier


https://www.walmart.com/ip/Pacon-Sp...isplay-Boards-48-x-36-White-4-Carton/22250462

 

[Katiejane]

I moved the cage about 2 weeks ago. My cats (actually only really one of them) are picking at the bars and trying to bat at the girls when they see them out and about. I do the best I can to stop them when I see it. But my older cat is incredibly persistent.
I thought about blocking the cage off somehow but it's a very open room and I couldn't see how it could be done. However I did scrounge through all my big boxes today (I knew I was saving those for a reason!) and found enough to makes this monstrosity:

It's pretty ugly, but my cats can't get at the cage anymore. (Maybe I will replace this with coroplast or something when I have the funds to do so)

Hopefully this helps. I really like having them out where I can see them all the time, if I could just get the darn cats to leave them alone!!

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Katiejane]

Whelp, the rotten &@$&@$ cats jumped my monstrosity last night (and this morning just to show off) so I think I'm just going to have to move the rats back into the other room. :cry5: If I make the barrier any taller it defeats the purpose of having the cage out where they are and I have no idea what else to try.

 

[Petunia]

oh no! your cats are really persistent :/
and quite athletic, too, to have gotten over that!
I don't know what else to suggest, unfortunately.

 

[jorats]

What about placing tinfoil pans in front of the cage? cats are suppose to not like stepping on those. There's also a product called Ssscat that could help deter the cats but it might scare the rats as well. My sister had to place a wire "fence" around the cage and a coroplast to hide the cats. I keep my rats in a different room. But a long time ago, I had my rats in the dining room, they didn't seem to mind the three cats but they "grew up" with the three cats always around.

 

[Katiejane]

So I'm surprised to be able to say I have a tentatively good update today. In spite of the barrier not actually keeping the cats away, it does seem to have made a difference in the rats comfort levels. Today even shy Mildred has been running around, using the wheel and coming to the door for us and taking treats.

So I figured since I'm seeing some positive progress, I would stick it out a little longer and try to help the rats feel safer since I can't seem to entirely stop the cats at the moment. So with that in mind I made a bunch of new tunnels and hidey houses today and loaded the cage up. And I added some strips of coroplast in a few strategic places so they can get around better without the cats seeing them even without the barrier. They seem to be really enjoying one of the new houses I made and they are running around like crazy right now, so I'm feeling a bit better.
Still hoping the cat gets bored and gives up. I can't believe how persistent he has been. He is usually such a lazy bum! :cuss:

 

[jorats]

Yes! I know many people who keep cats and rats in close proximity with no issues. Some rats simply can't get over the fear but many do. Your cat might very well leave them alone at some point but keep discouraging him from going up to the cage.
I remember once, was keeping a baby cage for two new baby rescues on my kitchen table. My cat was lying very close to the cage and the two babies were hard at dragging her fluffy tail into the cage for their nest. lol My cat didn't mind one bit.

 

[Katiejane]

Well this is still a work in progress but I'm happy to report that I have happy ratties again. Here is Mildred seeking out affection (and treats) from me during out time (something she hasn't done since we moved the cage)

I'm still having to get after the cats regularly so it's not 100% there yet, but the girls are obviously happier and feeling safer so I feel a lot better about the whole thing.

 

[Petunia]

aww that's nice to see!
rats are pretty smart, they usually figure out that the cat can't get to them. It looks like you've got very small bar spacing on your cage, so I think that's even safer than what I've got, a critter nation cage. I think my cat could paw at the rats thru the bars if she really wanted to, but she hasn't shown much interest in them.


I like the idea of having the rats where you can see them more, I'm thinking of moving my guys' cage into the living room. that way they can watch tv too, if they want

 

[jorats]

Great news!